Polishing machine



May 14, 1940. Afl.. BURRows ET AL POLISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1938 4 Sheets-,Sheet 1 l2 loo FIG. ly

INVENTOR BURROWS AXEL Eowm HI-:Nmcson www* ATTORNEY A. L. BURRows n Al. 2,200,537

POLISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1938 May 14, 1940.

4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ARCHIE L. BURROWS BYXEL EDWIN HENRICSON May 14, l'1940.

A. L.IBURROWS EF AL. POLISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. V14, 195s 4 sheets-Sheet' :s

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A. L. BURROWS ET AL PoLIsHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, '195s ATTORNEYS May 14, 1940.

Patented M'ay 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT crier;

POLISHING MACHINE Application February 14, 1938, Serial No. 190,486v

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to polishing,A machines and has as 4one o-f its principal objects to provide a relatively simple inexpensive machine embodying means for effectively polishing surfaces without scratching or otherwise marring the surface.

The invention concerns itself more particularly with a polishing machine having a revoluble bufling or polishing wheel and having provision for relatively moving the surface to be polished and the buiing wheel axially of the peripheral or polishing surface of the wheel during the polishing operation. With this arrangement, the life of the bufiing wheel is appreciably increased since substantially the entire Width of the Wheel is used in performing the polishing operation and the resulting rubbing motion is such as to effect a smooth surface free from polishing marks or scratches.

An advantageous feature of the present invention resides `in the provision of a `polishing machine having means for advancing the surface to be-polished relative to the wheel and having meansfor simultaneously moving the advancing means lin a direction transverse to the path vof advancement of the surface to such an extent that the entire peripheral surface of the b-ung wheel is used to eifect the polishing operation. As a result, any Wear of the buiiing wheel will be distributed uniformly along the polishing surface thereof and the desired degree of polishingis elected Without marking the surface.

Another object of this invention consists in the provision of a polishing machine rendering it possible ,to effectively polish strips of stock of irregular cross sectional and klongitudinal contour. This feature is particularly advantageous in the manufacture Vof vehicle Ybodies in that it affords Ya relatively simplemeans for polishing the molding strips employed in various different y Figure l is an elevational View, partly in sec'- tion, of a polishing machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 isa side elevational view, partly in section, of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2,;

Figure l is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line ll-ll of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View taken substantiallyon the plane indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan View of a slightly modified form of construction;

vFigure '7 is .a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line .l-JI of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken substantially on the Vplane indicated by the line 8 8 vof Figure 1.

For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, We have selected two molding strips of ydifferent configuration, although it will be readily apparent as .this description proceeds that the principles involved are by no means limited to polishing strips of the particular configuration illustrated. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures l to 5, inclusive, the strip A is shown as `having a longitudinal curvature of the type illustrated in Figure '2 and as having a cross sectional contour of the character noted in Figures l and-4.

,In general, the strip A is removably secured vto the top surface of a support I0 having a track II at the underside 'thereof adapted to extend between a pair of rolls I2 and I3 in a manner to be frictionally engaged by the peripheral surfaces o-f the rolls. As will be presently set forth, the rolls are operatively connected to a prime mover Ill vthrough the medium of suitable speed reducing ,mechanism I5 in a manner to be rotated in opposite directions, with the result that the track yI I is advanced by the rolls throughout a path of travel dependent upon `the longitudinal contour of the track. The longitudinal contour of 'the track conforms substantially 'to the longitudinal contour of the molding strip A to be polished Vsothat this molding strip is advanced throughout a corresponding path of travel. A buing wheel I6 of suitable construction is revolubly supported in a vposition above one Apoint in the path of travel of the molding stripA and is preferably located to engage the surface of the molding A directly yopposite the advancing rolls I2 and I3. It will, of course, be understood that the molding A is attached to the top surface of the support I0 directly above the track II fastened to the undersurface of the support so that as the molding is advanced by the track, the top surface of the molding is progressively engaged by the periphery of the bufling wheel I6.

In the present instance, the advancing rolls and, accordingly, the support I0 with the molding A thereon are moved in opposite directions transverse to the path of travel of the molding during advancement of the latter relative to the buiiing wheel. The degree of motion of the molding A in the above named directions is determined so that the entire width of the buing wheel is used to effect the polishing operation, and this is advantageous in that any wear of the bufling wheel is uniformly distributed throughout the axial extent of the periphery of the wheel with the result that the life of the latter is appreciably increased. In addition, the aforesaid transverse movement of the molding relative to the bufling wheel cooperates with the rotary movement of the latter and the advancing movement of the molding to provide a combination of motions which render it possible to effectively polish the molding A without scratching, or otherwise marring the surface of the latter. Attention may also be called to the fact at this time that movement of the molding A axially of the bufng wheel is more advantageous than moving the bufng wheel axially relative to the molding for the reason that the driving means for the buing wheel is not only appreciably simplied but, in addition, the bufng Wheel may be mounted on the drive shaft of a conventional lathe or other standard machine equipped with a revoluble shaft. In other words, the buing wheel may be a unit separate from the unit for imparting the aforesaid motions to the molding and no special provision need be made for driving the polishing wheel.

Referring now more in detail to the particular construction of the polishing machine forming the sub-ject matter of this invention, it will be noted from Figures l and 2 that the machine is provided with a base 2D and a pedestal 2| supported on the base for sliding movement in the direction of the axis of rotation of the buing wheel I6 in order to accurately position the advancing rolls relative to the bufling wheel. The base 20 is shown in the above figures as having a dove-tailed projection 22 extending in the direction of sliding movement of the pedestal and adapted to slidably engage in a correspondingly shaped way 23 formed in the undersurface of the pedestal base 24. Accurate adjustment of the pedestal 2| relative to the base 20 is effected by means of a screw 25 rotatably sup'- ported in the base 2l] and having a portion at the inner end threadedly engaging a nut 26 which, in turn, is fixed to the pedestal base 24 by means of the set screws 2l. The outer end of the screw is polygonal in cross section and is located to be accessible for manipulation by the operator. From the above, it will be noted that the advancing rolls I2 and I3 may be accurately positioned with respect to the bufng wheels I6 by accurately adjusting the screw 25 on the base 28 relative to the nut 26 on the pedestal.

Formed integral with the pedestal base 24 is an upwardly extending tubular portion 28 adapted to telescopically receive a screw 29 secured against rotation relative to the tubular portion 28 by means of a screw 3U` threaded in the side wall of the vtubular portion lwith the inner end slidably engaging in an axially extending keyway 3| formed in one side of the screw 29. A nut 32 is rotatably supported on the upper edge of the tubular portion 28 of the pedestal and has a threaded engagement with the screw 29 so that rotation of the nut relative to the screw causes the latter to move, either upwardly or downwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of the nut. In this manner, the elevation of the molding strip A may be varied with respect to the periphery of the polishing wheel I6 and the proper polishing pressure may be applied to the molding strip. Accidental rotation of the nut 32 relative to the screw 29 is prevented by effectively clamping the screw in the tubular portion 28. In detail, the tubular portion 28 is axially slotted at one side in the manner designated by the reference character 33 and the portions on opposite sides of the slot adjacent the upper end of the latter are formed with laterally outwardly extending ears 34 and 35. Upon reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the ears are formed with aligned openings therethrough and that the ear 35 is internalllr threaded for threaded engagement with a shaft 36 which extends freely through theear 34. A suitable handle 31 is secured to the extremity of the shaft in the manner shown so that movement of the handle in one direction places the tubular portion 28 under sufficient stress to clamp the screw against movement relative to the tubular portion 28 and movement of the handle in the opposite direction releases this stress to permit the desired adjustment of the screw 29 by the nut 32.

'I'he upper end of the screw 29 is shown in Figure 2 as being substantially U-shaped in end elevation and as having a dove-tailed projection 38 extending upwardly from the base 39 and adapted to be slidably received in a correspondingly shaped Way 40 formed in the undersurface of a plate 4I which is located between the legs 42 of the U-shaped portion. The gib 38 and cooperating way 40 extend in the direction of the axis of rotation of the buifing wheel I6, and the legs 42 of the U-shaped portion on the screw 29 are respectively located on opposite sides of the path of travel of the plate 4I relative to the screw 29.

As will be more fully hereinafter set forth, the

advancing rolls I2 and I3 are carried by the plate 4I and, as a consequence, are movable with the plate in the directionA of the axis of the bufng wheel I6. In detail, the opposite ends of the plate 4I are provided with upwardly extending supporting plates 43 having a table or platform 44 resting upon the top edge portions of the plates 43 and secured to the latter edges by means of the screws 45. As shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the two advancing rolls I2 and I3 extend upwardly through openings formed in the platform 44 in such a manner that movement of the plate 4I relative to the upper end of the screw 23 effects a corresponding movement of the advancing rolls relative to the bufng wheel.

The prime mover rI4 and speed reducer I5 are supported on one of the vertical plates 43 within the space dened by these plates and the platform 44. In other words, the prime mover I4 and speed reducer I5 are movable'with the plate 4l and platform 44 in the direction of the axis of rotation of the bufiing wheel I6. Upon reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the speed reducer is provided with a power l.take-off shaft 45 having its axis extending vertically and operatively connected to the drive shaft of the prime mover `I4 through the medium of reduction gearing (not shown) in a manner to be driven by the prime mover I4 at a reduced speed. The upper end 45 of the power take-olf shaft-45' extends beyond the speed reducing unit l through an opening 41 in the platform 44 and is adapted to telescopically receive the hub 43 on the advancing roll I2. As shown in Figure 4, the hub 48 is rotatably supported on the platform 44 by means of a flange 49 extending radially outwardly from the hub beneath they roll I2 and frictionally engaging the top surface of the platform 44 surrounding the-opening 4l. The flange 49 is maintained into frictional engagement with the platform i4 by meansofa screw 5c threaded into the upper extremity of the power take-off shaft 45 and having an enlarged head 5I at the upper end thereof seated in a-counterbored recess 52 formed in the upper end o-f the roll l2. Thus, it will be seen that the `head 5l cooperates with the flange 49 y in securing the roll I2 against axial displacement relative to thel power take-off shaft 45.

i The roll i2 is driven from the power take-off shaft 45 by means of a gear 53 keyed to the shaft 45 and having an upwardly extending hub 54 provided with an axially upwardly extending key 55 adapted to engage in a slot or keyway 56 formed in the adjacent end of the hub 48 on the roll I2. With this construction, the roll I2 may be assembled in driving engagement with the shaft 45 by merely telescoping the hub 48 of the roll I2 on the upper extremity 4E of the shaft 45 from the top side of the platform 44. It will, of course, be understood that during the interval the roll is sleeved on the Aupper end 46 of the shaft 45', the roll is rotatably adjustedto register the keyway 55 with the key 55 so that when the roll is in the position thereof shown in Figure 4, the flange i9 on the hub rests upon the top surface of the platform 44 and the key 55 engages in the keyway 56.` After the roll l2 has been positioned in this manner, the screw 5t is secured in place to prevent axial displacement of the roll.

The cooperating advancing roll I3 is identical in construction to the roll l2 and is assembled on a vertical shaft 5l in the same manner as the roll I2 is assembled on the upper end 46 of the drive shaft 45. Attention may be called to the fact, however, that the opening 58 in the platform 44, through which the hub til of the advancing roll I3 extends, has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the hub in order to permit limited shifting movement of the roll i3 toward and away from the cooperating roll i2. In the present instance, the cooperating advancing roll I3 is driven in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the roll 12,and this is accomplished by a gear 6I meshing with the gear 5,3'and rotatably supported on the shaft 5l. The' gear 6I is also provided with an upwardly extending hub 62 having anl axially extending keyI 63 engageable in a keyway Sli formed in the'lower edge of the hub F50 on the forming roll I3. In this manner, the forming roll I3 is driven from the power take-olf shaft 45 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the advancing roll I2.

Reference has been made above to thefa-ct that the advancing roll l 3 is movable toward and away from the cooperating roll I2. This is accomplished by integrally, or otherwise fixing the lower end of the shaft 5l to a piate-66 secured-to a slide supported on the underside Aof the, platform 4,4 for `shifting movement toward .and away from thepower take-olf shaft 45. Upon reference to Figure 5 ofthe drawings, it ywill be noted that `the slide 6l is guided throughout its movement by means of guides 63 fastened to the underside. of the .platform 44 on opposite sides of the path of travel of the slide Si. The slide is adjusted to provide the desired clearance between the cooperating advancing rolls by means of a screw 'l0 rotatably supported ina bearing 'il fixed to the platform 44 and having the inner end threadedly engaging the outer end-portionv of the slide 6l. The extreme outer end of the screw is polygonal in shapefor the purpose of manipulation and axial sliding movement'of the screw relative to the bearing 1I is limited by collars I2 xed to the screw at opposite sides o-f the bearing. A suitable spring i3 is located betweenone of the collars `and the adjacent side of the bearing Il to prevent accidental rotation of the screw.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the slide 61, plate 66 `carrying the shaft 5l, and adjusting screw lll are all mounted on the platform so as to vmove as a unit with the platform when the plate 4I is moved in the direction of the axis of the polishing rolls I6 relative to the elevating screw 29. In the presentinstance, the plate 4I, together with the platform 4i and associated parts carried thereby, are reciproc'ated in the direction of the axis of the polishing rolls I6 during advancement of the strip A along its path of travel relative to the polishing roll. In detail, the lower end 'I5 of the power take-off shaft 45 is secured to a head 'I6 in a manner that the head rotates as a unit with the power take-off shaft. As will be presently described, the head is connected to a part, xed against movement with the plate di, by a crank arrangement in a manner :that the reaction of the crank on the xedv member causes a reciprocation of the plate `'SII when the vpower take-off shaft is rotated. Inasmuch as the advancing rolls are carried by the platform 44 which in turn, is mounted on the plate 4I, it follows that the advancing rolls will be correspondingly reciprocated and will move the strip of stock A axially of the periphery of the polishing roll I6 as the strip is advanced relative to the polishing roll.

As shown in Figures l and 2, the head 'l5 is formed with a wedge-shaped recess 'Il inthe bottom surface thereof, and this recess extends at right angles to the axis of rotation of the power take-off shaft 45. A correspondingly shaped insert 19 is slidably mounted in the recess and has a roller 80 depending from the underside thereof with itslaxis of rotation offset from the axis of rotation of the. power take-off shaft 45 so as to describe an arc around the latter axis upon rotation of the head 16 by the shaft 45'. The roller 80 is, ofcourse, xed to the wedge '19 and extends beyond the underside of the wedge into a slot 8| formed in a plate 82 which is fixed to the head 39 of the elevating screw 29. The slot 8l is elongatedfin'a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the plate 4I and the longitudinal walls of the slot are frictionally engaged by the roller 8D. In the present instance, the opposite ends of the plate 82 iit within recesses S5 formed in the upper ends of the legs 42 of the U-shaped head 39 and are secured to the legs by suitable screws 85.

Inasmuch as the advancing rolls and driving mechanism therefor, including the power takeoff Ashaft 45', are `'carriedby the plate 4I and,

in View of the fact that the plate 82 is xedrelative to the plate 4I and is eccentrically connected to the power take-off shaft inthe man-I ner described, it follows that rotation of the head 'I6 by the power take-off shaft 45 effects a reciprocation of the plate 4I and parts carried thereby throughout a distance depending upon the degree of oifset of the roller with respect to the axis of rotation of the power takeoff shaft. The extent of reciprocation is determined so that substantially the entire polishing surface of the bufling Wheel I6 is used to polish the strip of stock during the interval the latter is advanced relative to the bung wheel. It will, of course, be understood that the length of the slot 8| is suihcient to provide the desired operation without binding, or otherwise stressing the parts.

The degree of offset of the roller 80 with respect to the axis of rotation of the power takeoff shaft 45 may be adjusted by sliding the wedge-shaped insert 'I9 longitudinally of the recess 'II in the head 16. This is accomplished by an adjusting screw SI) rotatably supported in the head 'I6 and having the inner end portion threadedly engaging the insert. Thus, by turning the adjusting screw 90, the eccentricity of the roller 80 with respect to the axis of rotation of the power take-olf shaft 45 may be varied from zero to a predetermined maximum. The wedge 19 is held in any one of its adjusted positions by means of a set screw 92 threaded through one side of the head and adapted to engage the adjacent side of the insert in the manner clearly shown in Figure 2.

As previously stated, a strip of stock A is removably secured to the upper surface of the support IU directly above the track Il provided on the undersurface of the support for guiding the stock throughout its movement past the bumng Wheel I6. In the present instance, the track II is channel-shaped in cross section and is secured to the undersurface of the support I0 with the channel opening toward the advancing roll I2. 'I'he distances between the anges of the channel are Such as to receive the periphery of the roll I2 therebetween and permit the latter to engage the inner surface of the base section of the channel. The outer surface of the base of the channel is frictionally engaged'by the other advancing roll I3, with the result that the latter cooperates with the roll I2 in advancing the support ID relative to the polishing wheel. Inasmuch as the molding A is attached to the support, it follows that this molding will be advanced as a unit with .the support. In this connection, it will be noted that the support may be provided with suitable projections |00 eX- tending upwardly from the top'surface thereof and shaped to telescopically receive the molding strip A. Also, it will be noted that the longitudinal contour of the track II conforms to the longitudinal contour of the molding strip A so that the surface of the strip to be polished is brought into registration with the polishing wheel, irrespective of its longitudinal contour.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 is identical to the one previously described, with the exception of the particular configuration of the molding strip being polished. In Figures 6 and 7, the molding strip is designated by the reference character B and has a cross sectional contour, such as to permit dispensing with the support IIl and associated fastening means II. In other words, the cross sectional contour of the strip B is channel-shaped and may be passed directly between the advancing rolls. It will, of course, be understood that the strip B requires two polishing operations in order to polish the exterior surfaces of both the legs of the channel. In the event that it is desired to polish the base of the channel, it is necessary to introduce the strip to another type of polishing machine.

yFrom the foregoing, it will be apparent that we have provided a relatively simple and inexpensive polishing machine wherein the strip being polished is actually displaced laterally of its path of travel relative to the bufng wheel to such an extent that substantially the entire peripheral surface of the wheell is employed during the polishing operation. As a result, the life of the burnishing wheel is appreciably increased and a better polishing effect is obtained. In addition, it will be noted that the polishing machine renders it possible to effectively polish surfaces of moldings having an irregular longitudinal contour without axially moving the p01- ishing wheel.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a polishing machine, a revoluble polishing wheel, means for advancing a strip of stock relative to the wheel with the surface of the stock to be polished adjacent the polishing surface of the wheel, a prime mover for operf ating the advancing means, a support for both the advancing means and prime mover, and means operated by the prime mover for reciproeating the support in directions to move the stock in opposite directions across the polishing sur face of the wheel.

2. In a polishing machine, a revoluble polishing wheel, a pair of rolls cooperating with each other to advance a strip of stock relative to the Wheel with the surface of the stock to be polished adjacent the polishing surface of the wheel, a prime mover operatively connected to the rolls for rotating the latter, supporting means for the rolls and prime mover, and means operated by the prime mover for reciprocating the supporting means transversely to the path of advancement and in a plane substantially parallel to the polishing surface of the wheel.

3. In a polishing machine, a revoluble polishing wheel, a pair of rolls cooperating with each other to advance a strip of stock relative to the wheel with the surface of the stock to be polished adjacent the polishing surface of the wheel, mechanism operatively connected to the rolls for rotating the latter, common supporting means for the rolls and mechanism, and means also actuated by said mechanism for reciprocating the support transversely to the path of advancement of the strip and in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the polishing wheel.

4. In a polishing machine, a revoluble polishing wheel, a pair of rolls cooperating with each other to advance a strip of stock relative to the `wheel with the surface of the stock to be pol- Wheel with the surface of the stock to be polished other to advance a strip of stock relative to the wheel with the surface of the stock to be polished adjacent the polishing surface of the Wheel, a support for the cooperating rolls mounted for sliding movement in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the polishing Wheel, a rotatable shaft carried by the support and operatively connected to one of the rolls for rotating the latter, a member xed against sliding movement with thev support, and a crank' arrangement operatively connecting said shaft to the member in a manner to effect the sliding movement aforesaid of the supporting means relative to the polishing Wheel during advancement of the strip of stock by said rolls.

6. In a polishing machine, a revoluble polishing wheel, a pair of rolls cooperating with each other to advance a strip of stock relative to the wheel with the surface of the stock to be polished adjacent the polishing surface of the Wheel, supporting means for the cooperating rolls mounted for sliding movement in a direction transverse to the path of advancement of the strip of stock and in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the polishing wheel, a revoluble shaft carried by the supporting means and operatively connected to one of the rolls for rotating the latter, a member fixed against sliding movement with the supporting means, a crank arrangement operatively connecting the revoluble shaft to said fixed member in a mannerto effect sliding movement of the supportingA means in the aforesaid direction upon rotation of the shaft, and means for adjusting the throw of the crank to vary the extent of sliding movement of said supporting means.

7. In a polishing machine, a revoluble polishing Wheel, apair of rolls cooperating with each other to advance a strip of stock relative to the adjacent the polishing surface of the Wheel, supf porting means for the cooperating rolls mounted forl sliding movement in a direction transverse to the path of advancement of the strip of stock and in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of rotation ofthe polishingyvheel, a revoluble shaft carried by the supporting means and operativelyl connected to one of the rolls `for rotating the latter, a member xed against sliding movement with the supporting means and having a slot therethrough elongated in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the supporting means, an element extending into the slot in engagement LWith the opposed longitudinal walls of the slot and offset from the axis of rotation of the shaft, and means connecting the element to the shaftv for rotation thereby.

8. In a polishing machine, a revoluble polishing Wheel, a pair of rolls cooperating with each.

other to ladvance a strip of stock relative to the wheel with the surface of the stock to be polished adjacent the polishing surface of the wheel, supporting means for the rolls mounted for reciprocation transverse to the path of advancement of the strip and in a plane substantially parallel to the axis` of rotation of the polishing roll, a speed reducing unit carried by the supporting means and having a power take-off shaft operatively connected to one of the advancing rolls forv rotating the latter, a prime mover also carried Vby the supporting meansr for driving the speed reducing unit, and means also driven by the power take-off shaft of the speed reducing unit for reciprocating said supporting means.

ARCI-IIE L. BURROWS. A. EDWIN HENRICSON. 

